Again he called out--"Ship Ahoy!" and this time his voice came strong and full, but though he stood and listened there was no response to his shout. A third time he called out, and then to his inexpressible delight he heard a hoarse16 voice coming over the water, “Ahoy! what boat is that?”
Rising once more to his feet he called through his hands, “Help! Help!” and sank exhausted18 in the bottom of the boat, incapable19 of making any further effort. He waited anxiously but there came no further response, and the little boat went drifting down with the tide. He began to fear that they had not heard his second call. Then--hours after it seemed--he heard the measured sweep of oars17 and the sound of voices coming nearer. But for his life he could not raise himself above the gunwhale; 307his strength had left him, and he was as feeble as a child.
But they had caught sight of the little craft where it tossed about in the space of moonlit water, and in a minute or two the ship′s boat was alongside. Gervase was trying without success to answer the questions the mate of the brig was putting to him. Divining at a glance his condition they lifted him into the boat, and one of the seamen20 with kindly21 pity threw his rough jacket over him as they rowed to the brig. He lay in the bottom of the boat utterly23 helpless and unable to move; but his heart was full of inexpressible emotion, for he had accomplished his work and saved the city.
He remembered rowing round the brig and seeing the words “Phoenix24 of Coleraine” painted in large white letters on the stern, but he fainted away as they lifted him over the side of the boat, and knew nothing more till he found himself lying in the round-house of the brig.
“What piece of goods have ye got there, McKeller?” the master said, standing2 by the shrouds25, and looking over the bulwark26 as they lifted Gervase aboard.
“As fine a lad as ever I saw in my life, but thin as a whipping-post--a messenger I think, from Londonderry. Gently, my lads, easy with his head. Six feet two of manhood, and I guess a rare good one with his whinger if he had his senses about him.”
They carried him to the round-house, and laying 308him on the floor, poured a dram of aqua-vit? down his throat, but for a long time he showed no sign of life. Then they noticed the letter where it was secured.
“You were right, McKeller,” said the master, as he handed the case bottle to the mate, “the youngster comes from Londonderry, and he brings the message with him. Mayhap ′twill stir up the Colonel at last, and I trust it will, for the sake of Tom Robinson and my sister Marjorie. My God! what that young fellow must have come through; and a gentleman too, as I judge by the gewgaws on his finger.”
“Ay,” answered the mate drily, “and you have given him a pint27 of pure spirits by way of welcome. You′ll hardly hear about Tom Robinson for a while after that.”
“Never fear; these long-legged fellows stand a lot of moistening. I wouldn′t for half my share in the good ship Phoenix have missed hearing the lad′s hail this night; he never would have lived through a night in the boat--but he′s beginning to come round.”
Gervase showed signs of returning consciousness. His first action was to feel for the precious letter, and then he opened his eyes and looked round him with a gaze of vacant inquiry28. “Where am I?” he said.
“Why, just aboard the brig Phoenix, Andrew Douglas, Master, hailing from Coleraine, and bound with the help of God, for the port of Londonderry; 309and among your friends if you are what I take you to be. Now don′t trouble your head but just take a drop more of this.” The kindly shipmaster put the bottle to his lips and insisted on his drinking.
“Ye′ll kill him,” said the mate; “ye think that everybody has the same stomach for strong waters as yourself. It′s food he wants, I′ll warrant, not drink.”
“And food he′ll have,” cried the master excitedly, “when I′ve brought back the colour to his cheeks, and he′ll be on his legs in a twinkling. Here, Jack22, you skulking29 rogue30, set out the best there is on board, and make us a bowl of punch, for by ----, I′ll drink the health of the bravest fellow I′ve clapt eyes on for a twelvemonth.”
“You would drink with less provocation31 than that,” said the mate, lifting Gervase to his feet and helping32 him to a seat. “Now ye can tell us the news from Londonderry, lad, if it′s true ye come from there.”
“I came thence to-day--yesterday,” said Gervase. “They can hold out no longer. Where is Colonel Kirke? I must see him immediately.”
The master looked at his mate with a broad grin on his face. “Faith ye′ll not see the Colonel to-night, nor early in the morning either. If he′s not abed by this time and as drunk as a lord, he′s on the fair way to it, and swearing like a dragoon with a broken head. He′s a terrible man in his cups, is Kirke, and they keep it up rarely on board the Swallow. I love the clink of a glass sometimes 310myself, but--hoot! there′s no use talking. If you′re able, spin us your yarn33 while they′re getting you something warm, for you must want a heap of filling out to look like the man you were.”
Gervase told his story shortly as well as he was able, interrupted repeatedly by exclamations34 of wonder and horror by the captain and the mate, and when he had finished they sat staring at him open-mouthed.
“That is the tale as briefly35 as I can tell it,” said Gervase, “and you will not wonder that I would put the letter in Kirke′s hands with all the haste I can. Next Wednesday there will not be a scrap36 of food in the city, and if you wait till then you may lift your anchors and go back to where you came from. For God′s sake, tell me what you are waiting for?”
“Till Kirke has emptied his puncheons,” said the mate bitterly.
“Not a soul on board the fleet thought it was going so hard with you, but you had better see Leake, who is a plain-spoken man with some authority. I hear he is all for making up the river, and your story will help him to move the scarlet-coated butcher who is but half-hearted in the business.”
“Colonel Kirke I must see first,” said Gervase; “my message is to him, and when he reads Walker′s letter he can hesitate no longer. All that is wanted is the wind and the tide. There need be no fear of the guns, for in Londonderry we have learned what they can do.”
311The skipper had said nothing, but sat leaning his head on his horny hand. Then he seemed to awaken37 from his fit of abstraction. “And poor Tom is gone, you tell me? He was a younger man than myself by half a score of years, and as likely a fellow as ever lived when I danced at his wedding nine years syne38. A putrid39 fever, you say. Odds40, I would like you could have told me how it is with Marjorie and the young ones.”
“He chanced to be of my regiment,” said Gervase, “and that is how I came to know his end. But many a brave fellow has fallen into his last sleep yonder, and all for want of a little manhood here.”
“For God′s sake tell me no more of your story,” said the master, “but even fall to on the boiled beef, and don′t spare the liquor. For myself, please Heaven, I′ll drink the taste of your yarn out of my mouth, though belike it will take a hogshead at the least to do it.”
The master was as good as his word; while Gervase and the mate sat down at the lower end of the table, he produced a great bottle from a locker41, and poured out a large measure of spirit, which he drank at a draught42 without any dilution43 of water. He filled the glass a second time and drank it without a word. It was clear that he was determined44 to drown his grief, and as Gervase glanced at him from time to time in amazement45, he went on steadily46 until the bottle was nearly empty. The mate said nothing, only shaking his head as though 312the sight was not a novel one and remonstrance47 was out of the question. “He′ll maunder a bit by-and-by,” he said in an undertone, “and then he′ll turn in; ′tis the way of him--he′s a good Christian48 and a rare seaman49, but liquorish. We′ve all our faults and he was born with a thirst. Surely ye haven′t finished? why, man, I thought ye were starved yonder, and ye haven′t done more than nibble50 at the good meat!”
“Try the punch,” said the master, by this time some way in his cups, with his face shining like a furnace; “try the grog, and never mind McKeller; I have to do his drinking and my own as well, and ′tis devilish hard work, let me tell you. No man can say that Andrew Douglas ever shirked his duty.”
“When it came in the shape of rum puncheons,” said the mate. “Now ye′ll just turn in, and I′ll see that the young gentleman is made comfortable.”
The master was induced to retire with a good deal of difficulty, while Gervase and the mate sat down to a long talk together, as the result of which Gervase came to the conclusion that all his difficulties were not yet over. Then he turned in and forgot all his troubles in a sound and refreshing51 sleep.
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1
oar
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| n.桨，橹，划手；v.划行 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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3
exertion
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| n.尽力，努力 | |
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perspiration
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| n.汗水；出汗 | |
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5
vessels
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| n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人 | |
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6
thwarts
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| 阻挠( thwart的第三人称单数 )； 使受挫折； 挫败； 横过 | |
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7
laborious
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| adj.吃力的，努力的，不流畅 | |
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8
accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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10
perils
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| 极大危险( peril的名词复数 )； 危险的事（或环境） | |
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11
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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12
parched
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| adj.焦干的；极渴的；v.（使）焦干 | |
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13
throbbed
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| 抽痛( throb的过去式和过去分词 )； （心脏、脉搏等）跳动 | |
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14
murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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15
mariners
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| 海员，水手（mariner的复数形式） | |
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16
hoarse
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| adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的 | |
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17
oars
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| n.桨，橹( oar的名词复数 )；划手v.划（行）( oar的第三人称单数 ) | |
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18
exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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19
incapable
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| adj.无能力的，不能做某事的 | |
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20
seamen
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| n.海员 | |
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21
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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22
jack
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| n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克 | |
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23
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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24
phoenix
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| n.凤凰，长生(不死)鸟；引申为重生 | |
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25
shrouds
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| n.裹尸布( shroud的名词复数 )；寿衣；遮蔽物；覆盖物v.隐瞒( shroud的第三人称单数 )；保密 | |
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26
bulwark
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| n.堡垒，保障，防御 | |
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27
pint
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| n.品脱 | |
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28
inquiry
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| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
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29
skulking
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| v.潜伏，偷偷摸摸地走动，鬼鬼祟祟地活动( skulk的现在分词 ) | |
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30
rogue
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| n.流氓；v.游手好闲 | |
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31
provocation
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| n.激怒，刺激，挑拨，挑衅的事物，激怒的原因 | |
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32
helping
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| n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的 | |
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33
yarn
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| n.纱，纱线，纺线；奇闻漫谈，旅行轶事 | |
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34
exclamations
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| n.呼喊( exclamation的名词复数 )；感叹；感叹语；感叹词 | |
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35
briefly
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| adv.简单地，简短地 | |
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36
scrap
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| n.碎片；废料；v.废弃，报废 | |
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37
awaken
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| vi.醒，觉醒；vt.唤醒，使觉醒，唤起，激起 | |
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38
syne
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| adv.自彼时至此时，曾经 | |
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39
putrid
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| adj.腐臭的；有毒的；已腐烂的；卑劣的 | |
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40
odds
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| n.让步，机率，可能性，比率；胜败优劣之别 | |
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41
locker
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| n.更衣箱，储物柜，冷藏室，上锁的人 | |
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42
draught
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| n.拉，牵引，拖；一网（饮，吸，阵)；顿服药量，通风；v.起草，设计 | |
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43
dilution
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| n.稀释，淡化 | |
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44
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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45
amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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46
steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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47
remonstrance
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| n抗议，抱怨 | |
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48
Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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49
seaman
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| n.海员，水手，水兵 | |
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50
nibble
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| n.轻咬，啃；v.一点点地咬，慢慢啃，吹毛求疵 | |
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51
refreshing
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| adj.使精神振作的，使人清爽的，使人喜欢的 | |
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